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County lost
out in a sometimes pulsating encounter with promotion rivals Kidderminster
Harriers, at Aggborough last night.

The3-1 score line did not flatter the
Worcestershire side –being ,in my view,
just about a fair reflection of how things panned out, as County struggled for
cohesion against a fantastically well drilled ( full time) outfit held together
brilliantly at the back by Jim O’Connor and Fraser Horsfall. They were also
well served up front by the returning Dan Bradley and, although County could
point to much possession and time on the ball, it was Harriers who could say,
with some conviction, that they defended better and attacked with greater precision
than their opponents.

It was as
long and short as that really, County were out played where and when it
mattered, and undone by errors at crucial times.

That said
…the blues did scorea fine goal…a real
belter really…from Jimmy Ball that equalised Jack Ironside’s opening goal, and
for a time the thought /conviction was abroad in the decent sizedCounty following, that perhaps this was
County’s night.

Sadly it
wasn’t and they were punished severely for a couple of lapses and struggled
thereafter to haul themselves back into it.

Both sides
set about matters with a purpose from the first blast of Referee Amy Fearn’s
whistle…Thomas twice running at the Harriers back line with power and energy.

Elton
Ngwatala responded for Harriers and looked lively down the left, but Winter saw
this early threat off nicely.

Things were going
nowhere special, 5 minutes in, and there seemed not to be any threat as
Ironside latched onto the ball outside the box. The situation called for
someone in blue to challenge the Harriers number nine, but no one did, and then
it was too late as Ironside had sent a firm strike across the goal …beyond
Hinchliffe’s dive…..into the far corner of the net, to give our hosts the
lead.

That was a
real set back to County’s ambitions, but they came back at their opponents
quickly and with determination, keeper Brandon Hall saving well from Ball, and Pearson
in position to hack the ball off the line with Oswell rounding on the ball.

Thomas was
in the van of the response from County and Sam Austin had to work hard to
contain him at this point.

Oswell not marked for once !

Then….just 4
minutes after they had conceded…County were level, and it was a real cracker
too- started and finished off by Jimmy Ball, who at this point looked in superb
nick. A charging run from County’s number eight succeeded in eviscerating the Harriers
cover , capping a lovely bit of work by passing inside to Turner before
receiving the ball back.

Jimmy on the ball!

A shot of
supreme beauty followed- still rising as it thudded into the back of the net!

It was 1-1
and the County following was in its element, belting out `The Scarf’ with
impressive gusto!

This was
beginning to look like a winnable game now, and an exciting contest too, but if
County were going to make any headway at all, they were going to have to be
quicker to combat some of the runs from Ngwatala and Bradley who, with 10
minutes gone, was starting to look lively.

Ngwatala
emphasised County’s task as he won a corner with his latest nippy run down the
left. Hinchliffe eventually sorted that one, but there was a pace and
incisiveness about the home sides play that did not bode well.

Fair do’s
though…County were trying hard, and it took good work from Horsfall to thwart a
Warburton/ Thomas combo.

By the 17
minute mark, crosses were pinging in from the right as well, with Declan Weeks
joining the fray, and Cowan earned plaudits for some fine defensive play to see
the threat off.

County came
under much pressure in the 2 or 3 minutes that followed, and it was heartening
to see Thomas again show us how good a defender he is when the chips are down,
and they were ……….as Ngwatala made for the ball from another Harriers corner.

Clarke, Cowan, Thomas- busy !

Thanks to
Thomas and good work also from Clarke and Duxbury the danger was averted, but
this proved to be a false dawn as, with County not reacting, Mc Quilkin seized
the ball, drew Hinchliffe to him, and slotted a cool finish beyond him into the
net.

Another
slack bit of work from the blues…..another goal conceded, and with Bradley
seemingly on song, things were not looking all that great for County suddenly.

Bradley was
also something of a lucky lad ashe
chose to `indulge himself’ at Duxbury’s expense- 2 fouls in rapid succession
both of which might have merited more than a free kick from the referee.

Clarke gets attention !

Amy missed
another, a minute or so later, as Horsfall reacted to Turner’s presence on the
edge of the box with a clear push in the back. The referee’s error might not
have been crucial, as the ball reached Jimmy Ball, and had he reprised his
earlier effort, but alas he did not…instead dragging a poor effort well wide of
the target.

It was a
good game was this…..and end to end too as Hall claimed Thomas’s cross off the
head of Oswell.

Offside stops County.....

But…at the
other end of the park, County had their work cut out to contain Kidderminster
as crosses pinged in fromright….and
then left as Austin’s cross to the back post took all County’s resolve to
clear.

Blues under pressure

Some 6 or so
minutes from half time, and with the home specs getting at Oswell, he had a
`brief encounter’ with keeper Hall. It was classic panto with Ossie installed
in the roll of villain by the Harriers support.It wasn’t even handbags really and just a few soothing words from Amy
and it was all done with!

Then County
almost went further behind, as Bradley took advantage of oodles of space on the
right side of the County defence. It was another decent strike from Bradley and
was going in until Hinchliffe flung himself to his left to tip the ball over
the bar- a fine save!

More pressure on County.

The last few
minutes of the half saw both sides have a go….O’Connor thwarted by Clarke who
cut his cross out nicely….and Turner worked hard without result for County in
reply.

There was no
further addition to the score, and it was 2-1 to Harriers when the teams went
in at the break.

County took the play to Harriers as the game
restarted, and O’Connor did excellent work to see off a threat from Oswell and
Thomas. Cowan joined in ,but Stott shot over the bar from the resultant cross.

There was 5
minutes of sustained County pressure next, that briefly offered hope, but
Bradley rained on this parade by stealing possession in his own half and
darting clear.

Only a
corner came from that one…or so I thought until Hinchliffe and Stott joined
forces to do their `after you Claude’ bit and somehow set Croasdale up with an
open goal. It was shoo in….I could have put it away….but somehow Croasdale
contrived to push the ball onto a post thus….amazingly and ridiculously…
allowing Hinchiffe to scramble back and gather the ball.

That was too
awful for words….for both teams!

County came
back at Harriers….Oswell going close, and an almighty `handball’ cry going up
from behind the goal that was ignored by the referee.

County
needed to sharpen up, but they did the opposite, losing possession again giving
Ironside a chance to make the game safe for his side. He didn't….instead
shooting tamely into Hinchliffe’s arms!

County were
still trying however, and a one goal deficit was not totally insurmountable was
it?Warburton was unlucky seeing
O’Connor’s last ditcher dish his run into the box around the hour mark. The
corner again offered County hope, but no more than that and this soon
disappeared asBradley stole clear again
feeding on some slack work from the blues to slam a glorious drive past
Hinchliffe into the net.

Late County corner....

It was 3-1
now and despite all County’s bluster that was now looking to be somewhat beyond
us to reverse.

Turnbull
came on for Winter next, and Sonupe for Bradley for Kidderminster, and Sonupe
wasted no time at all rattling in a tasty shot that whizzed across goal and
out.

By contrast
things were going a touch off the boil now for County, as Stott sent a free
kick straight at Hall.

With
Stephenson on for Duxbury with 20 minutes left, County did their best to make a
decent fist of what remained of the game.

With
Stephenson getting on the ball, for a time it looked promising, but despite
corners coming and going , there was no sign of a goal that might ignite a
small flame and drag the Hatters back into it.

Stephenson on for Duxbury

Warburton
did go close with one free kick though, and Turner closer , and should have
done better with a chance than he did – hesitating too long when put clean
through, thus allowing Horsfall time and opportunity to rob him….which he duly
did!

If it was a
stats game, County would be winning it – possession wise it was no contest, but
on quality of that element Kiddy had the definite edge and were always a real
threat on the admittedly fewer occasions that they had the ball.

But….County
kept plugging away…Stott with a decent run down the right, and another from
Thomas continued to excite without producing that vital goal. Clarke did look
on for one on the end of that Thomas cross until a glorious/ desperate ( select
to taste)last ditcher from substitute George Waring saed the day for Harriers.

One really
stand out chance did come County’s way with 6 minutes left, and it fell to
Oswell as keeper Hall contrived to throw the ball straight to him on the edge
of the box. The goal was gaping and un-manned as Oswell shot , but any thoughts
of a goal quickly vanished as O’Connor somehow got a touch on the ball as it
left the County number nine, sufficient to deflect it wide!

Bugger !
hardly covers it, with or without exclamation marks, and we more or less knew
for sure now that the game was lost.

Oswell and Stephenson
went close in what remained of the match , but soon enough it was all over and
the points were Kidderminster’s.

A
disappointing result for sure,but we
have no divine right to win although for
a time at least recently perhaps we have all been tempted to think that we
have.

Nothing
changes for me, Jim’sthe man, and
County can and will come back from this.

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